The Green Bay Packers could get a return for quarterback Malik Willis.
The Green Bay Packers fell to 9-6-1 with their loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, but backup quarterback Malik Willis had an incredible performance.
Willis completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.
It was such a great performance from Willis that some wondered if Green Bay would start him over Jordan Love for the playoffs.
“It’s pretty clear that Jordan is our franchise quarterback, and he’s going to be — when he’s healthy — he’s going to be our starter. So I just want to squash all that," head coach Matt LaFleur said.
While LaFleur emphasized that Love is the franchise quarterback and the starter, he still complimented Willis's play.
“He can make any throw on the planet. I’d put him up against anybody," LaFleur said about Willis.
Willis played well for Green Bay, going back to the 2024 season. He started two games and won both. He also filled in for Love in a game he exited against the Jacksonville Jaguars and led the Packers to a win.
In the 2024 season, Willis completed 40 of 54 passes (74.1 percent) for 550 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
With Willis's play over the last couple of years, he is likely to get a starting job in 2026. He is an unrestricted free agent, and it's highly unlikely he will return to the Packers, where he would be a backup.
However, that doesn't mean Green Bay will lose Willis for nothing. They could franchise tag and trade Willis, but that won't happen, as the franchise tag for a quarterback is $50 million.
The most likely scenario for the Packers is getting a compensatory pick. What round that pick falls in depends on how much the contract is for Willis in free agency.
The Packers benefited from having a great quarterback in Willis, who played at a high level when Love was out. While Green Bay would love to retain him, Willis deserves a starting spot somewhere in the NFL, and they will at least receive a compensatory pick for losing him.